At their height, the band comprised distinctive and diminutive Scottish singer Jimmy Somerville, backed by fellow Scot Steve Bronski and Londoner Larry Steinbacheck, both of whom played keyboards and percussion.
Formed in 1983, their debut hit came the following year - the striking tale of a boy who was cast away by his family and neighbours for being gay. Called Smalltown Boy, it peaked at Number 3 in the UK and was accompanied by a memorable video of Somerville leaving home, forlornly eating an apple on a train, being attacked by a homophobic gang and being returned to his family by the police.
The song quickly established the trio as an outlet for gay issues – all three members were homosexual – and the follow-up single Why? pursued the same energetic and electronic formula musically, while the lyrics focussed more centrally and darkly on anti-gay prejudice. Again, it made the Top 10 in the UK.
At the end of 1984, the trio released an album which was provocatively titled The Age Of Consent. The sleeve inside listed the varying ages of consent for homosexual sex in different nations around the world. At the time, the age of consent for gay men in the UK was 21.
A third single was released from it, again causing controversy. It Ain't Necessarily So, the George and Ira Gershwin classic (from Porgy and Bess) which questions the authenticity of Biblical tales, reached the UK Top 20. Playing the clarinet solos in the song was Richard Coles, with whom Somerville would later team up to form The Communards.
In 1985, the trio joined up with Marc Almond to record a version of the Donna Summer classic I Feel Love. The full version was actually a medley, also incorporating snippets of "Love to Love You Baby" and "Johnny Remember Me." It reached Number 3 in the UK charts, equaling the feats of "Smalltown Boy," and was memorably described by one critic as "the gayest record ever made".
Following the remix album Hundreds & Thousands, Somerville quit the band, stating he wanted a career which was "more political". Presumably this related to internal politics rather than the lyrical direction of the band, as his new project relied almost entirely on unpolitical songs and cover versions – and they were a huge success in doing so. He teamed up with Coles to form The Communards and in 1986 outsold all other singles in the UK with their version of Don't Leave Me This Way.
Bronski Beat recruited John Foster as Somerville's replacement. A very catchy single called Hit That Perfect Beat managed to equal the two previous biggest hits by reaching Number 3 in the UK charts. In 1986, they released their second album, Truthdare Doubledare.
In 1989, Jonathan Hellyer became lead singer, and the band extensively toured the U.S. and had one minor hit with the song Cha Cha Heels, a one-off collaboration sung by American actress and singer Eartha Kitt.
Bronski Beat released their third and final album, Rainbow Nation, in 1995. They split that year.
The songs "Smalltown Boy" and "Why" were sampled by producers Steve Angello and Axwell under the moniker Supermode (originally Supermongo) for their song "Tell Me Why". "Tell Me why" peaked at #13 on the UK singles chart.
In 2018, London Records issued a remastered and expanded 2CD edition of their debut, The Age of Consent. Remastered from the original 1984 analogue tapes, it includes demos, BBC sessions, remixes and unreleased tracks.
Heatwave
Bronski Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boys we're headin' for a summer heat wave
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
Tattoos and muscle passion and sweat
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave
Yeah yeah
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Summer heat save
Summer heat save
Summer heat save
Summer heat save
De ha ra doo yeah
The lyrics to Bronski Beat's "Heatwave" are a breezy, jubilant celebration of summer heat and the passions that come with it. The opening lyrics, "Hey we're headin' for a summer heat wave / Boys we're headin' for a summer heat wave," set the tone for the rest of the song, which is full of upbeat, repetitive choruses and catchy melodies.
The second verse describes the sensory experiences of a summer heat wave, with references to tattoos, muscle, passion, and sweat. The lyrics capture the feeling of being consumed by the heat and the intensity of the passions it awakens.
The song is propelled by a lively drumbeat and synthesizer riffs, which give it an infectious, danceable quality. The playful "Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo" refrains that punctuate the verses add to the song's lighthearted feel, and the brief call and response "Summer heat save" interludes provide a sense of audience participation.
Overall, "Heatwave" is a fun, carefree celebration of the joys of summer and the intensity of the passions it can inspire.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey we're headin' for a summer heat wave
We are about to experience a hot summer.
Boys we're headin' for a summer heat wave
Boys, we are about to experience a hot summer.
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
We are experiencing a hot summer.
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave yeah
We are experiencing a hot summer.
Tattoos and muscle passion and sweat
The summer brings about revealing clothing, bodily desire, and perspiration.
Summer he-e-e-e-e-eat wave
We are experiencing a hot summer.
Yeah yeah
A casual expression of agreement.
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Silly vocalizations that express the enthusiasm of summer.
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Silly vocalizations that express the enthusiasm of summer.
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Silly vocalizations that express the enthusiasm of summer.
Dee dab dee ra dee dab dee dab doo yeah
Silly vocalizations that express the enthusiasm of summer.
Summer heat save
Endure and survive the heat of the summer.
Summer heat save
Endure and survive the heat of the summer.
Summer heat save
Endure and survive the heat of the summer.
Summer heat save
Endure and survive the heat of the summer.
De ha ra doo yeah
Silent chanting that expresses the energy and excitement of summer.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES SOMERVILLE, STEVE BRONSKI, LAWRENCE COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beatatomaszewska5009
Greetings with Poland for everybody who?...........like Bronski Beat !!!!
@HamnaTabuu
Brings back the memories of playing the raw version of this and the other songs on the album, throughout the Summer of "84.
RIP Steve & Larry
@hassopeter4318
Rest in Peace Mr. Bronski.
@tonypap1
What a choon ❤
@rickyvalentine5779
The notes are super high but very amazing song one my favorites
@shiwithani4290
I once read that the clacking beat they used was originally from some jazz/ swing song. But I can't for the life of me remember where I read that or what song it was or weather I made up that memory entirely.
If anyone knows anything I'd be grateful for an answer.
@rainthedraconic402
Neet groove doods
@cwlago
Ótimo!
@HenkjandeKrijgerYoors
Liedje van de dag op Yoors ! https://y.is/UrS0Q
@joseluisojedagarcia984
bellísimo grupo